Archives for December 8, 2003

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Parallel purification in the fume cupboard

Radleys Discovery Technologies, a UK-based specialist in parallel chemistry, has introduced a platform to speed up the purification process after synthesis of multiple compounds.

Rhodia: no comment on divestment rumours

Chemicals company Rhodia has played down reports in the French press that it is considering a sell-off of its activities in silicon, food additives and phosphates as part of an asset divestment programme aimed at improving its profitability.

Sanofi-Synthelabo looks east

Sanofi-Synthelabo said it will invest €250 million over the next four years to expand its production site in Veresegyhaz, Hungary, and modernise its manufacturing processes.

Low cost steam trap station

Spirax Sarco has introduced a stainless steel steam trap station - used to remove condensate and air or other incondensable gases from a production pipeline - that is suitable for use in pharmaceutical applications. The all-in-one unit is designed to...

Single-shot HIV jab enters the clinic

Clinical trials of a new prophylactic vaccine candidate to prevent HIV/AIDS, developed by US company Targeted Genetics, have begun in Belgium.

New Risperdal fends off patent impact

The pharmaceutical industry is suffering from a raft of problems at present, from a decline in R&D productivity through patent expirations and the increasing reluctance of health care systems to pay for prescription drugs.

Another arrest in fake Lipitor case

The US authorities have arrested another individual for suspected involvement in the distribution of fake copies of Pfizer's blockbuster cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin).

Drug development costs hit $1.7 billion

Another report has slammed the so-called blockbuster model of drug development in the pharmaceutical industry, in which R&D efforts are concentrated on drugs that can command sales in excess of $1 billion (€820m).